Jewelry clasp



K. WAYNE JEWELRY CLASP Dec. 17, 1963 Filed Sept. 19, 1961 INVENTOR.

Kwzr WA W BY v 6km L gm ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oil Free 3,114,187 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 3,114,187 JEWELRY CLASP Kurt Wayne, 580 th Ave, New York 36, N.Y. Filed Sept. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 139,184 2 Claims. (Cl. 24116) This invention relates to a jewelry clasp and refers more particularly to a clasp for use in connecting together the ends of multi-stoned stringed articles of personal adornment, such as necklaces, bracelets and the like.

Throughout this specification and claims the term multi-stoned stringed article is used to describe a string or strips of pearls, a string or strings of beads as well as any other ornamental stringed articles, consisting of precious stones, glass, plastics, precious metals, nonprecious or semi-precious stones, metals and the like. The term strand is used to describe a separate string comprising a plurality of pearls or beads or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a jewelry clasp for connecting together the ends of a necklace or bracelet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry clasp which can be used interchangeably wit different necklaces and bracelets.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry clasp for connecting together the ends of a doublestranded necklace or bracelet.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In achieving these objectives, the jewelry clasp may be made in various embodiments. In a first embodiment, the clasp comprisesa pair of jaw members hingedly connected to each other at the bottom. The lower portion of each jaw is shaped such that when, by way of example, the clasp is fastened to a double-stranded necklace piece, the jaw members enclose and securely hold a jewel at one end of one of the necklace piece strands. An eye integral with one of the jaw members is used to permanently connect the other end of the last-mentioned necklace strand to the clasp. The upper portion of each jaw member consists of a substantially arcuate branch made integral with the lower portion. The upper portions of the jaw members are also adapted to enclose and securely hold a jewel at one end of the other strand of the necklace piece. Another eye integral with one of the jaw members is used to permanently connect the other end of the secondmentioned necklace strand to the clasp. The upper portions of the jaw members are positioned in an offset relation with respect to the lower portions. Thus the beads at one end of the two necklace piece strands are held, respectively, in the lower and upper portions of the clasp in an offset relation. A spring carried in the hinged connection is provided to hold the jaw members in a normally closed position. in general, the outer face or" one of the jaw members may serve as a base for additional ornamentation such as a filigree, etc.

In accordance with another embodiment the clasp is also used for connecting together the two ends or" a single-stranded necklace piece, a bracelet or the like. In this embodiment, the clasp comprises a first pair of jaw members and a second pair of jaw members connected together in a side by side arrangement. Each pair of jaw members has a rigid jaw member and a swingable jaw member hingedly connected together and is provided with a spring in the same manner and for the same purpose previously described. When the clasp is fastened to a single-stranded necklace piece, the first pair of jaw members encloses and holds securely a jewel at one end of the necklace strand while the other pair of jaw members encloses and holds a jewel at the other end of the necklace strand. The advantage of this construction is that the necklace strand need not be permanently secured at either end to the clasp. Thus the clasp can be used interchangeably with other necklace strands as, for example, ones of diilerent color or different type of bead material.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a jewelry clasp for connecting together the ends of a double-stranded necklace piece, the clasp being shown in a closed position;

FIGURE 2 is the same as FIGURE 1 except the jaws of the clasp are shown in an open position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is the same as FIGURE 3, the clasp being shown connecting together the ends of a double-stranded necklace piece.

The clasp 11) has a rigid jaw member 11 and a swingable jaw member 12 connected together at the bottom by means of a hinge 13. The hinge 13comprises hinge pieces 14 integral with rigid jaw member 11, hinge pieces 15' integral with swingable jaw member 12, and a hinge bolt 16 extending through the hinge pieces. A spring 17 extends between hinge pieces 15, enclosing hinge bolt 16 and is connected at one end to swingable jaw 12 to exert a force thereon so that normally swingable jaw 12 is closed up tight against rigid jaw member 11 as shown in FIGURE 1. The open position of swingable jaw 12 is shown in FIGURE 2.

The lower portion 18 of rigid jaw member 11 is substantially U-shaped with the sides 19 and 20 being directed inwardly towards each other at the top. The upper portion 21 of rigid jaw member 11 is also substantially U-shaped with the sides 22 and 23 also being directed inwardly towards each other at the top. The upper portion 21 is integral with and extends upwardly from side 29 of lower portion 18, being symmetrically disposed thereabout so that the upper portion 21 of rigid jaw member 11 is positioned in a horizontal offset relation with respect to the lower portion 18 of the jaw member.

The lower portion 2 1 and the upper portion 25 of swingable jaw member 12 are identically shaped with, and in the closed position of the clasp are positioned directly behind the lower portion 18 and upper portion 21, respectively, of the rigid jaw member 11 except that the lower portion 2 iis closed at the top by a branch piece 26 extending out from side 27 of lower portion 2 4 and directed toward and becoming integral with the bottom of upper portion 25.

The tip 2 3 of side 27 of lower portion 24 of swing able jaw 12 is directed inwardly at a right angle from the jaw in the direction of rigid jaw 11. Likewise the tip 29 of side 19 of lower portion 18 of rigid jaw 11 is directed inwardly towards swingable jaw 12. The same is true of the tips 31 and 32 of the upper portions 21 and 25, respectively (FlG. 1). Thus the tips on one side of the lower and upper portions of the clasp form closure rings to engage a necklace string orthe like as later described.

The swingable jaw 12 has a pair of eyes 33 and 34 formed integral therewith at points near the top of the lower portion 24 and near the top of upper portion 25. These eyes 33 and 34 provide means by which one end of each ofthe strands in a double-stranded necklace piece can be permanen ly connected to the clasp 111 (FIG. 5).

A tongue piece 35 made integral with the base of swingable jaw member 12 extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom at an acute angle and constitutes a lever member by means of which the force of spring 17 can be overcome and swingable jaw member 12 pivoted about rigid jaw member 11 to open the clasp to the position shown in FIGURE 2.

It is obvious that a desired ornamentation such as metal filigree, jewel chips or other decoration could be affixed to the outer face of rigid jaw member if. to give it additional esthetic value.

In operation:

FXGURE illustrates the use of the clasp it? for connecting together the ends of a double-stranded necklace piece. A necklace piece having two separate strands 4i) and 4,1 is permanently connected to the clasp 10, one strand 40 being connected to eye 34 and the other strand 41 being connected to eye 33. The wearer slips the necklace piece around the neck and brings the two ends thereof together at approximately the front center of the neck. While holding the free ends of strands 4i and -51 in one hand, the wearer using the fingers of the other hand opens the clasp 19 to the position shown in FIG- URE 2 by exerting pressure on tongue member 35. With the clasp being held open, the wearer then slips the end head 42 on strand 41 into the space between the lower portions 18 and 2.4 of rigid jaw member 11 and swingable jaw member 12, respectively. The end bead 43 on strand 4% is then slipped into the space between the upper portions 21 and 25 of rigid jaw member 11 and swingable jaw member 12, respectively. The pressure on tongue member is relaxed and spring 17 forces swingable jaw 12 and hence the clasp 10 into the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 1. In this position the tip 28 of swingabie jaw member 12 rests on top of the string 44 of strand 43 between bead 43 and its adjacent bead 45, and the tip 31 of swingable jaw member 12 rests on top of string 46 of strand 41 between bead 42 and its adjacent bead 47. As seen in FIGURE 1 these tips form with rigid jaw membertips 29 and 32 closure rings which prevent the strings 44 and 46 from slipping or pulling out of the clasp. The jaw members 11 and 12 also enclose the beads 42 and 43 and securely hold them whereby the ends of the necklace piece are connected together. To remove the necklace piece from the wearers person, one need only open the swingable jaw 13 as previously described, and slip the beads 42 and 43 from the clasp.

While the clasp 10 has been described as applied to a double-stranded necklace, obviously it may be used in connection with many different double-stranded articles of adornment.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact disclosure herein described but may lend itself to a variety of expressions within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A jewelry clasp for connecting together the ends of a multi-stoned double-stranded, stringed article of personal adornment said clasp comprising, a first jaw member having a substantially U-shaped lower portion and a substantially U-shaped upper portion integral with said lower portion, a second swingable jaw member having integral U-shaped upper and lower portions located substantially opposite the upper and lower portions of said first jaw member in close abutting relation thereto in a closed position of said swingable jaw member, a hinge interconnecting said jaw members at the bottom,

4 a spring connected with said hinge and engaging said second jaw member for urging it into said closed position, means connected with said second jaw member for pivoting said second jaw member away from said first jaw member to an open position, and means carried on one of said jaw members for connecting one end of each of the strands of the stringed article to said jaw member,

the lower portions of said jaw members engaging a stone at the other end of one of the strands of the stringed article and the upper portions of saidjaw members engaging a stone at the other end of the other strand of the stringed article when said swingable jaw member is in said closed position for connecting together the ends of the stringed article.-

2. A jewelry clasp for connecting together the ends of a multi-stoned double-stranded, stringed article of personal adornment said clasp comprising, a first jaw member having a substantially U-shaped lower portion and a substantially U-shaped upper portion integral with one side of said lower portion and horizontally offset with tion thereto in a closed position of said swingable jaw member having integral U-shaped upper and lower portions located substantially opposite the upper and lower portions of said first jaw member in close abutting relation thereto in a closed position of said swingable jaw member, the tips of the upper and lower portions of each of said jaw members at one side being turned toward each other with the tips of one jaw member nested beneath the tips of the other jaw member in said closed position to form closed rings, a hinge interconnecting said jaw members at the bottom, a spring connected with said hinge and engaging said second jaw member for urging it into said closed position, means connected with said second jaw member for pivoting said second jaw member away from said first jaw member to an open position, and an eye carried on each of the lowerand upper portions of the other side of said second jaw memher for connecting one end of each of the strands of the stringed article to said jaw member, the lower portions of said jaw members engaging a stone at the other end of one of the strands of the stringed article and the upper portions of said jaw members engaging a stone at the other end of the other strand of the stringed article when said swingable jaw member is in said closed position with the inwardly turned tips of said jaw members supported on the string extending between each of said stones and the stones next adjacent, for connecting together the ends of the stringed article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Oct. 22, 1951 

1. A JEWELRY CLASP FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER THE ENDS OF A MULTI-STONED DOUBLE-STRANDED, STRINGED ARTICLE OF PERSONAL ADORNMENT SAID CLASP COMPRISING, A FIRST JAW MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED LOWER PORTION AND A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED UPPER PORTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID LOWER PORTION, A SECOND SWINGABLE JAW MEMBER HAVING INTEGRAL U-SHAPED UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY OPPOSITE THE UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST JAW MEMBER IN CLOSE ABUTTING RELATION THERETO IN A CLOSED POSITION OF SAID SWINGABLE JAW MEMBER, A HINGE INTERCONNECTING SAID JAW MEMBERS AT THE BOTTOM, A SPRING CONNECTED WITH SAID HINGE AND ENGAGING SAID SECOND JAW MEMBER FOR URGING IT INTO SAID CLOSED POSITION, MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID SECOND JAW MEMBER FOR PIVOTING SAID SECOND JAW MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID FIRST JAW MEMBER TO AN OPEN POSITION, AND MEANS CARRIED ON ONE OF SAID JAW MEMBERS FOR CONNECTING ONE END OF EACH OF THE STRANDS OF THE STRINGED ARTICLE TO SAID JAW MEMBER, THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID JAW MEMBERS ENGAGING A STONE AT THE OTHER END OF ONE OF THE STRANDS OF THE STRINGED ARTICLE AND THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID JAW MEMBERS ENGAGING A STONE AT THE OTHER END OF THE OTHER STRAND OF THE STRINGED ARTICLE WHEN SAID SWINGABLE JAW MEMBER IS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER THE ENDS OF THE STRINGED ARTICLE. 